Manurewa Open Space Network Plan August 2018 1 Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Purpose of the network plan ................................................................................................................................ 7 1.2 Strategic context .................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.3 Manurewa Local Board area ............................................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Current State ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 Treasure ............................................................................................................................................................. 12 Enjoy ................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Connect .............................................................................................................................................................. 22 Utilise .................................................................................................................................................................. 24 Key move ................................................................................................................................................................... 28 2.1 Create parks for our community ........................................................................................................................... 29 2.1.1 Quality parks ................................................................................................................................ 29 2.1.2 Play experiences ......................................................................................................................... 31 2.1.3 Events and programmes .............................................................................................................. 33 2.2 Make connections ................................................................................................................................................ 35 2.2.1 Signage ....................................................................................................................................... 35 2.2.2 Greenways plan .......................................................................................................................... 35 2.2.3 Street trees .................................................................................................................................. 36 2.2.4 Enhance ecological corridors ....................................................................................................... 36 2.3 Protect the environment ....................................................................................................................................... 39 2.3.1 Water quality ................................................................................................................................ 39 2.3.2 Ecological restoration .................................................................................................................. 39 2.3.3 Native tree planting ...................................................................................................................... 40 2.4 Cater for growth ................................................................................................................................................... 41 2.4.1 Park land acquisition .................................................................................................................... 41 2.4.2 Diverse experience ...................................................................................................................... 42 2.4.3 Adopt a place-making mind-set ................................................................................................... 42 2.5 Express local identity ........................................................................................................................................... 44 2.5.1 Make all signage bilingual ............................................................................................................ 44 2.5.2 Use Māori place names ............................................................................................................... 44 2.5.3 Tell local stories ........................................................................................................................... 44 Prioritised actions ....................................................................................................................................................... 46 3.1 Prioritisation principles ......................................................................................................................................... 46 3.2 Manurewa Local Board advocacy ........................................................................................................................ 46 3.3 Manurewa-wide projects ...................................................................................................................................... 47 Cover image: Totara Park Matariki Planting, June 2018 (source: Kara Goddard, Auckland Council) 2 Figure 1: Parks and open space in the Manurewa Local Board area 3 Executive Summary Access to park amenities is important for The Manurewa Local Board has a all park users. comprehensive network of 143 parks and open spaces (577 hectares). It consists of 118 Seating and shade associated with areas neighbourhood parks, 17 esplanade reserves such as playgrounds, walkways and sports and eight suburb parks/sports fields. fields are important features in parks. Other features that are known to be of importance to The Botanic Garden covers 64 hectares of park users include: land, including 10 hectares of native forest. good access and circulation Totara Park, the largest park in the area offers safety and security bush walks, playgrounds and a swimming pool catering for everyone. adequate car parking The area has a diverse range of communities suitable signage and the delivery of the parks and open space diversity of play experiences network plan should respond to their varying trees for beauty and shade needs irrespective of age, ability, ethnicity and provision of activities for youth gender. level and well drained playing surfaces A number of issues and opportunities have and quality turf matched to the sports been identified through the development of code. this network plan. A list of prioritised actions A priority should be to develop a plan to have been developed to improve the open identify parks that would benefit from space network, and deliver a sustainable additional features. quality open space network over the next ten years. There are gaps in the provision of playgrounds in some areas. Population density will place pressure on Inclusive play promotes equity and social the open space network. cohesion between people of different ages, Gaps in provision of open space for cultures, ethnicities and abilities. Parks have neighbourhood and suburb parks have been been identified where there is an opportunity identified. There are opportunities to improve to provide a new playground or play elements. the existing open space network. Esplanade The Manurewa Greenways Plan maps the reserves will play a key role in the open space potential network of walking and cycling network and it is important that these are connections. acquired. The local board has an advocacy role in the provision of open space. The Manurewa Local Board Greenways Plan identifies cycling and walking connections that There is room for improvement in the will help to connect communities. The plan is quality of parks and open space network. currently being completed by an external The aim is to provide high quality, well used consultancy. and safe parks that provide a range of visitor experiences for people of all ages and Many parks lack signage that could abilities. Coordinating park improvements and contribute to connecting the community increasing service provision through the parks with parks and open spaces. renewals programme will achieve better park Effective signage can play a role in building outcomes. safer and stronger communities; signage may include information such as place names, 4 cultural narrative, directional, interpretive Ecological restoration is required in some information and way-finding maps. It is parks where vegetation requires additional anticipated that the provision of bilingual park or succession planting. and stream signage will inform people of the The parks’ ecological value, its climatic story of these assets and contribute to how function and the users’ experience are they are valued. affected by ecological quality. Parks that would benefit from additional planting have Water quality and biodiversity have been identified in Appendix 1. relatively